The sky was deep blue and little clouds like cotton flakes adorned it. The train continued its course through the green countryside, hill after hill where sheep of a very thick wool were grazing. Clara's face was still glued to the window, she loved everything she saw. She came from a city congested with traffic and gray skies. Since she was a little girl, her playground had been under a bridge, near a river that crossed the city. The little houses were close together, so close that you could hear the often unpleasant conversations of the neighbors.
Clara had made an effort to get out of there, she had studied nursing and worked in the hospital on the west side of the city. A few months ago, a friend had shown her an advertisement for a nursing home in Ireland. Among the requirements were nursing skills and the ability to speak English.
“Look Clara!, what do you think about this opportunity? you are a very good nurse, you love your profession and you master the English language, besides you are going to know another country, other people... are you up for it?” her best friend Rosaura tells her.
“I don't know, it's a bit of a crazy adventure, but I like the idea of getting to know another way of living, another country. Ireland must be very nice, I imagine it full of forests and leprechauns and people drinking a lot of beer... hahaha and dancing on the tables.”
“What an imagination you have!”, her friend replies with a smile. “Well you know, you have to decide soon and write to that email address. I recommend you to find out very well if that place exists and where it is exactly and everything you can, to be sure that there is nothing strange behind this ad.”
Clara was very excited with this opportunity and thought "I am not going to waste it, I want to get out of here, I don't feel that this is my place".*
The train had finally arrived at its destination, the passengers grabbed their luggage and started to get off at the platform. It was cold at this time of the year. Clara was the last one to get off and she sat down to wait for the people who were to come to pick her up.
A lady with a very particular green hat and a jacket of the same color, approached her and asked her with a very singsong voice.
“You are Clara, aren't you?”, and extending her hand. She said “I am Arlene, welcome to Ireland and to our home”. And grabbing her suitcase, she said “let's go, the driver is waiting for us.”
They walked to the exit of the train station and got into the waiting van. As they got in, she saw a very tall man at the wheel of the car, wearing a cap and a scarf...also green.
"It seems to be the favorite color of the Irish", Sara thought.
“This is Mr. Patrick, our chauffeur, but also gardener, carpenter and plumber when we need him.”
“Nice to meet you Mr. Patrick”
“The pleasure is mine Miss, welcome to Ireland,” he replied, turning around and reaching out to her and shaking her hand.
The car followed a long dirt road through forests of pine, oak and beech trees, the smell of the vegetation is nice. Clara kept the windows open, letting the cold breeze touch her face. Her black, curly hair came loose from the bun she wore and flew over her head. She pinned it back up.
They arrived at a very large two-story house surrounded by gardens with many colorful flowers. A very tall fence separated it from the forest. The House St. Patrick, said a sign welcoming them.
“Come Clara” said Arlene, as she entered the house. “Let's show you your room so you can rest a little and arrange your things, then I'll introduce you to the rest of the staff when it's time for lunch.”
They went up some stairs and advanced through a hallway, the wooden floor made a very particular sound "rui" "rui".
“This is your room, I hope you are comfortable here. I'll look for you in an hour.”
Clara looked around the room, everything she saw she liked very much. The window and the balcony, the bed looked very comfortable. A bedside table with a beautiful lamp. She began to put her things away in a wooden drawer and in the closet she placed her clothes. She felt like she was in another world. Finally, she threw herself on the bed.
“How comfortable it is!”, she thought and almost immediately fell asleep.
The knocking on the door woke her up, “Clara, it's time!”.
“I'm coming Arlene”. She dressed up as quickly as possible and went out.
They went downstairs and entered a very large living room, with a huge table. Everything was prepared for the meal.
When they arrived, all the people who were seated turned to look at her.
“Let me introduce Clara, who as of today joins our home's work team.”
“Hello Clara!”, they almost said in unison, “welcome”.
“Thank you very much,” Clara replied a little shyly.
“Sit down, you will have a chance to get to know each other better.”
Clara sat between an older man with gray hair and a young girl about Clara's age, no more than 25 years old, with very white skin and reddish hair, who smiled kindly at her.
“Hello Clara!, my name is Moira.”
“Hi Moira!, nice to meet you.”
After lunch they met in the coffee lounge and she had the opportunity to meet the other people. That night Clara had many dreams while she slept, the forest was calling her and some extraordinary beings with a lot of light were waiting for her.
The following days were full of work, attending to the elderly, helping the doctor at the house, Dr. Brain. He was a very kind man of 45 and treated everyone with affection. The elderly loved him.
She also helped with the cooking of dinner and on Saturdays in the garden. She was fascinated by this work, being among the plants made her feel very happy. On Sunday mornings they attended mass in a beautiful chapel and in the afternoons she went to the village with those who dared to go out. She had made friends with Moira and other young people. This day was very special as March 17 was St. Patrick's Day and there would be festivities all over Ireland.
In the village people were very cheerful and that Sunday everything was decorated for the holiday, the taverns were full of people drinking beer and eating. Many wore green hats and scarves. Some had their faces painted green. Clara was very cheerful. She was having a lot of fun with her friends.
That night before going to sleep, she thanked God for how good she felt there and fell asleep very tired. The dreams of the forest and the luminous beings came back and repeated themselves every night. One day while she was working in the garden, she heard a voice calling her and, following it, she reached the edge of the forest. But at that moment she felt afraid and did not go any further. She thought that she should talk about this with someone, and at one point she told her friend Moira.
“Don't worry Clara, that must be because of all the new things you are experiencing. Ireland is a place of many fantasies and legends.”
Clara felt a little calmer until one afternoon when she was in the garden and a young man approached her.
“Hello Clara, how are you? We are waiting for you, when you decide you can meet us in the forest.”
Clara was very surprised because she didn't know where he had entered, but the brightness that emanated from his eyes and his smile left her fascinated. When she tried to answer him, she saw him walking away. So she decided to talk to the doctor, because he instilled confidence in her.
When she told him what had happened, he thought about it and said to her
“What you are telling me happened to a person who came here a few years ago and left without saying goodbye. I'm worried about you, I'm going to talk to Arlene. Please, I implore you not to go to the forest.”
That night Clara dreamed again of the forest and when she woke up she saw how the full moon illuminated the whole path. Without being able to help herself, she got dressed and left the house. She opened the gate and went to the entrance of the forest. There the man who had spoken to her was waiting for her. She felt that she was where she was supposed to be and calmly walked towards him.
Translated with www.DeepL.com/Translator (free version)